explain the passion (not pc)

[Sonya610]

This is not pc nor chipper but it is honest.

Explain the passion! Explain it so maybe I can get it.

I wanted the energy of a snake for years....and liked the ball python because it is well...clingy. Then on impulse I bought one 3 years ago. She is a sweet animal, never bites, tolerates handling, and is very very finicky. Yes I knew all that beforehand but still. I am summoned to provide a living sacrifice every week and I do so. But I have to admit, it is not fulfilling.

She is constantly hiding and really does not like being handled though tolerates it well (and yes I guess I knew that ahead of time so no rude lectures please).

But what is the passion? For the veteran BP owners what is it? Because I just don't quite get it. Sweet in a quiet way yes, harmless yes, hidden and prefers to stay in the hide 24/7, yes. Honestly while she is quiet and harmless I am failing to get it, if I need to sacrifice a rat to the snake god every week I would at least like the eye candy of the snake lounging around. I do not enjoy the live feeding bit, I suppose some enjoy that thrill but not me....so help me see the upside as quite honestly if I am going to go through this every week I should have bought boa or other display species that would at least lounge around and be seen even if they don't want to be handled.

[OhhWatALoser]

the appeal is the eye candy itself for me, I do have a few that will gladly come out and don't care about hiding but most well...they hide. More like living artwork to me than anything.

[mommanessy247]

yeah, um bp's do not make good "display" pets.
if that's something you really want, then i think a GTP (green tree python) would make a better selection...unless i'm wrong, in which if i am then i'll surely be corrected.
personally i would like to see my snake more often too but i'm comfortable with the fact that if hiding 24/7 is what makes my bp happy then i'm all for that.
i'd rather have a happy thriving animal then one that is stressed and not doing well.

[Kinra]

the appeal is the eye candy itself for me, I do have a few that will gladly come out and don't care about hiding but most well...they hide. More like living artwork to me than anything.

I have to agree with you. I love all of my BPs. Each one is unique in its own way. I'm not really a "veteran" snake owner as I've only had my normal since last October, but I love them. I used to think I was a dog person until I got my first BP, then I was hooked. I think everything about them is cool. I love the way their scales feel and their different color patterns. Personally I think mine like being held, they are curious and explore their surroundings when I hold them. I love it when Lily perks her head up to look around, it's cute, or when Houdini can't seem to figure out which way is up and ends up with his head upside-down for a minute. I think it's great that they don't care if I'm at work for 10-11 hours and that I don't have to feed them every day or even give them attention every day. I'm indifferent to the fact that they eat rodents, but I love watching them strike. The power they posses is fascinating, but then again that's just me. I strongly believe that snakes are not for everyone, but for me they are the best.

[PitOnTheProwl]

What got me into them?
My fear of snakes LOL, my wife, and the Cali King she wanted.
Now I am wanting to get into the breeding to see what I can make.
The colors are great, their temperment is perfect for me, and in the short time we have been keeping them I dont know if we could be without them anymore.

[purplemuffin]

I love holding my dear ball python! They are sweet and beautiful I just love them!

Not everyone wants the same thing out of a pet. There are dog people, cat people, fish people, snake people, etc.! And even within that there are smaller groups..Smaller dogs, athletic dogs, big snakes, little snakes, etc.

Don't try to make the breed fit your needs, it's programed to do what it's programed to do. Just like a pure bred dogs that is bred to perform a high energy task will be more hyper, a ball python that has survived through hiding will be a hider!

It's REALLY hard to fight genetics and instincts! I agree, green tree pythons are way better display snakes. Even a corn snake will be out and about more. Know your snake, and know what you want out of it!

I dunno, for me, my snakes are fulfilling. Just like my cats and my frog and my other critters!

[SlitherinSisters]

You should have gotten a cat or dog BPs are boring. They really aren't mobile, loving, caring, or exciting.

I can understand your issue with feeding live, I don't particularly like doing it, but it's so much easier for me than f/t. Most of my snakes would eat f/t but I don't like the extra work, I would much rather have my fun breeding rats and making my own snake food. Feeding live is unfortunately something you have to think long and hard about before you get a snake, not all of them will eat f/t.

As for what intrigued my passion. The genetics are pretty darn cool. I don't know what it is, but breeding and playing with genetics is definitely what interested me most about owning these creatures. Plus the fact that it's super easy to keep these animals in large numbers.

[Sonya610]

Not everyone wants the same thing out of a pet. There are dog people, cat people, fish people, snake people, etc.! And even within that there are smaller groups..Smaller dogs, athletic dogs, big snakes, little snakes, etc.

It's REALLY hard to fight genetics and instincts! I agree, green tree pythons are way better display snakes. Even a corn snake will be out and about more. Know your snake, and know what you want out of it!

Haha...yeah I know. I am a dog lover, moved country and ended up with a rather large canine household due to the scum that dropped a pregnant female off on a country road. Lots of canine energy around here, 110 lb Anatolian plus 3 of the "stray pups" that could not be placed.

I sort of thought I would be trashed for saying the BP thing is not such a good match, bad decisions and irresponsible pet owner accusations. She is well fed it is just...all work and no fun (and I really really do not enjoy the live rat thing, I ignorantly believed she would stay on frozen, as it is the only time i see her active is when I am delivering prey and that quite honestly sickens me, I deliver and try to run out to the porch quick so I don't hear the scream).

Then in a shallow and utterly selfish moment while buying a live rat at the one semi-local pet store I spied a boa. Not hiding, just looking snakey and cold out in the open with his georgious serpentine self. I thought sheesh...if I had to sacrifice and drive and suffer moral anguish to feed alive rat every week I wish I could enjoy the pleasure of eyeing that lovely serpent every day as a reward.

[cecilbturtle]

i have always been strangely fascinated with snakes and turtles and really all animals. i think it started for me when i saw how i could scare my sisters and make scream and run away. i have 6 older sisters so that was always fun for me.

this is a creature with no arms or legs but is an extremly mobile and efficient predator. they rely on their surroundings to thermo regulate. snakes have adapted to thrive in most every climate.

ive cared for hundreds of snakes and while there are certain species characteristics there are also the different personalities within each species. ive cared for reticulated pythons that were puppy dog tame and ball pythons that just never seemed to enjoy handling until he drew blood.

reptiles arent supposed to feel love for their owners but if you look around this site youll find that most of us disagree. i understand the biology of reptiles but i have had a snapping turtle that would only relax when i held him. snakes that would bite keepers but never show a single sign of aggression to others.

so if you dont get it thats okay. you seem like a responsible keeper but if you really want a display animal there are dozens out there to choose from. this is just my opinion but i dont think you should get a pet just for show. if you get too bored with your snake ill gladly take him off your hands though!

good luck!

[Alexandra V]

For me, I always just kind of clicked with snakes. I have one memory from when I was 2 years old, and that was petting an albino burmese python at an info show thing. Ever since then I had wanted a snake, and when I was finally allowed to get one for myself I decided on a ball python because of their docile nature and their manageable size. I never wanted to show it off, I just wanted to keep one. Since then I've been expanding my snake collection and I love each species for their different quirks.

The passion was always there, and it just takes a certain kind of person to have the passion. Like cat people/dog people/bird people.